Mesa police make arrest in cat mutilation case

A man has been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after surveillance video caught him taking a cat from a Mesa neighborhood that was later found dead and mutilated, according to Mesa Police Department.

Scott Andrew Graham, 39, was seen on camera taking a cat from a neighborhood near Alma School and Guadalupe roads at about 10 p.m. on Aug. 8, according to Sgt. Tony Landato, a spokesman for the Mesa Police Department.

A few days later, the cat was found dead and mutilated behind a strip mall, along with another cat, Landato said.

On Aug. 23, a neighbor saw Graham's vehicle in the area. The neighbor followed Graham's vehicle on a bicycle, Landato said.

Graham threw a cat from the window of the vehicle and fled the neighborhood, Landato said.

Monday night, the same neighbor saw Graham's vehicle again and followed him in his car, Landato said.

Using the information gathered from the neighbor, police were able to find Graham later Monday night.

Graham told police he had taken as many as 40 cats from the area, but denied harming them. He said that he would play with the cats before releasing them in another area.